Access Restrictions

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia, 2.2-3705.5) and the Virginia Health Records Privacy Act (Code of
Virginia, 32.1-172.1:03) establish guidelines for restricting access to medical and other confidential forms of information
in order to protect personal privacy. Protected health information (PHI) as defined under the Privacy Regulations issued
under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) includes, but is not limited to, personally identifiable
information such as names, addresses, and social security numbers. The Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia, 42.1-78)
includes a provision for closing all privacy protected information for 75 years from the date of creation. In accordance
with this legislation, the Library of Virginia can and will restrict, in whole or in part, access to any privacy protected
medical information or any other confidential information contained in these records.

The records of Western State Hospital (WSH) have been reviewed and processed, and all attempts have been made to identify,
restrict (in whole or in part, depending on the nature of the record) and/or mark for redaction any privacy protected medical,
personnel, and other confidential information restricted by law contained therein. The types of records that may be restricted
in whole or in part include, but are not limited to, laboratory notes and records, patient files, case histories, and any
other patient level data. When possible, the privacy protected information has been sealed or redacted (or will be upon request
of material), and may be available for research in its altered form. When redaction is deemed implausible by library staff
due to the type, size, or condition of the records, the records will be completely closed. Absolutely restricted material
may include but is not limited to, patient lists, patient admission registers, treatment registers, and personnel files less
than 75 years of age. Please inquire about the restriction status of individual boxes and volumes. All records more than
75 years old are open for research.

A patron wishing to access his or her own records will be accommodated, regardless of the age of the record, as long as proof
of identity is provided. Patrons searching for their own records must provide a drivers license or government-issued identification
card featuring a photograph. This identification card will be photocopied and attached to the research agreement.

Use Restrictions

Researchers must sign a research agreement to use any part of the Western State Hospital collection. This agreement specifies
that confidential or personally identifiable health information less than 75 years of age that may be encountered during research
will not be recorded, published, publicized, or re-disclosed to any other party for any purpose. If a request for copies
is made for material containing protected health information (PHI) or any other form of confidential information, it is also
understood that this information will be redacted from the copies, if it is possible to do so. If redaction is not possible,
the records will be withheld. Researchers must also agree that no direct or indirect contact will be made with the individuals
to whom any personal or confidential information relates. Improper use and/or re-disclosure of privacy protected information
is a breach of confidentiality which could result in the loss of access to the archival collections housed and maintained
by The Library of Virginia, and could result in legal penalties (Code of Virginia, 18.2-186.3).

Preferred Citation

Records of Western State Hospital, 1825-2000. [Cite specific accession number, box, volume and folder numbers], State government
records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Accession 31030 transferred by Frank Demory, Western State Hospital, 12 March 1981.

Processing Information

The Western State Hospital collection came to the Library of Virginia in multiple accessions over two decades. In many cases,
the original order of the material had been disturbed or was unidentifiable. In other instances, the provenance was unclear
and an educated guess was made as to which person or office created the records. Care was taken to maintain the original
order when possible, but for the most part, the arrangement of this collection is artificial. The series names and groupings
were devised by the processing archivist in an attempt to create logical divisions within this large collection. Cross-references
can be found in many series descriptions that will point the researcher to similar material in other series.

Additionally, separate box and volume numbering systems were imposed by the processing archivist for finding aid and stack
location identification purposes. The box and volume numbers should be used when requesting material, but are not always
in strict numerical order.

Researchers should also note that Series VI. of this finding aid describes correspondence, contracts, agreements, buildings
and grounds records and other miscellaneous documents that were found during a records transfer at Eastern State Hospital
in Williamsburg, Virginia in February 2010. Many of the documents were created and used by building superintendent and architect
Thomas R. Blackburn. According to records at Eastern State and Western State, these items were removed from the Western State
Hospital archives in 1983 and used by researchers to accurately reconstruct the Public Hospital at Colonial Williamsburg.
The records were never returned to Western State and were eventually found in a basement at Eastern State in 1987. The records
were taken to the Eastern State archives where they were housed until the hospital transferred its historical records to the
Library of Virginia in 2010. The records in Series VI. remain part of Eastern State Hospital accession 44812.

Accession 50989 came from the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents, which was previously known as the DeJarnette
State Sanatorium. Because of the overlap between these records and the records found in the Western State Hospital records,
as well as the fact that Joseph DeJarnette was the superintendent of both facilities, these records have been interegrated
into this collection as Series VII.

In January 1825 the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation providing for the construction of an asylum in the western
part of the state. A Court of Directors was commissioned by the Governor to serve as the asylum's governing body and charged
with purchasing a site close to the town of Staunton, west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on which to build an asylum to house
the mentally ill of western Virginia. The institution, which became known as Western Lunatic Asylum, was the second mental
health facility built in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The buildings and surrounding gardens were designed to embrace the
idea of "moral therapy" for mentally ill patients by providing an aesthetically pleasing and tranquil atmosphere in which
patients lived comfortably, exercised and worked outdoors.

Western Lunatic Asylum opened in 1828, accepting both male and female patients suffering from a variety of mental disorders.
Common diagnoses included "hard study," "religious excitement," and "debility of the nervous system." The asylum was overseen
by a Keeper, a Matron and a visiting physician during its earliest years. The hospital also employed attendants, gate keepers,
night watch personnel, farm hands, and a steward who handled the day-to-day financial operations. The first superintendent
appointed to oversee Western Lunatic Asylum was Dr. Francis T. Stribling. Dr. Stribling was a proponent of the moral therapy
approach, and was a leader in the early mental health community. Dr. Stribling was one of the thirteen founders of the Association
of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane, which later became known as the American Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Stribling served as the hospital superintendent and as a physician until his death in 1874.

It should be noted that the hospital underwent a short-lived name change between 1861 and 1865, when it was known as Central
Lunatic Asylum. (It should not be confused with an asylum of the same name later built in Petersburg, Virginia to house African
American patients). From 1865 to 1894 the name was again Western Lunatic Asylum. However, in 1894 the General Assembly passed
legislation changing the name to Western State Hospital.

Another highly influential superintendent at Western State Hospital was Dr. Joseph S. DeJarnette. Dr. DeJarnette was hired
as a physician in 1889 and was appointed superintendent in 1905. His tenure was the longest of any superintendent at Western
State. Dr. DeJarnette was also responsible for founding the DeJarnette State Sanatorium, which housed patients with the ability
to pay for their treatment. Dr. DeJarnette remained the superintendent of Western State for 38 years, retiring in 1943 with
many accolades. He served as superintendent of the sanatorium from its formation in 1932 to his full retirement in 1947.
Dr. DeJarnette's involvement in the eugenics movement and his support of the involuntary sterilization of mental patients
has in more recent years earned him a less favorable reputation.

Many of Western State Hospital's original structures remain standing on what is referred to as the "Old Site." Many of these
structures are historically and architecturally significant and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During
the 1960s a newer hospital facility was constructed, and over the next decade patients and programs were slowly moved to the
"New Site." Deinstitutionalization efforts and increased focus on localized community programs resulted in lower patient
census numbers starting in the 1970s, and by the mid-1970s the Old Site had shut down completely. The Old Site was later
converted into Staunton Correctional Center, which it remained until its closure in late 2002. The original grounds of Western
State Hospital were eventually sold and are being converted into condominiums and retail space as part of an urban redevelopment
plan.

Western State Hospital continues to serve the mental health needs of Virginia's citizens from the New Site in Staunton, Virginia.
The hospital is part of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and is governed by
the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

The Western State Hospital collection contains a wide variety of bound volumes and paper records spanning more than 170 years
(1825-1998). Included are administrative records such as annual reports, correspondence, office and subject files, meeting
minutes, newsletters, photographs, and reports, as well as a specific departmental and program records relating to the Community
Hospital Industrial Rehabilitation Program (CHIRP), the DeJarnette State Sanatorium, and the Shenandoah Geriatric Treatment
Center (SGTC). Also included are financial records such as auditor's books, budget files, farm production records, and supply
inventories. The patient-related records include admission registers, commitment papers, medical records, and several types
of patient lists. Also included in this collection are a variety of report books created and maintained by staff members regarding
patient admissions, attendants' rounds, ward activities, and many other duties performed at the hospital. The records of the
Western State Hospital document many facets of the institution's operational history, patient life and medical treatment,
as well as the evolution of mental health treatment in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Contains a variety of records including annual and other miscellaneous reports, building and grounds records, correspondence,
meeting minutes, newsletters, policies and procedures, photographs and slides, press material, subject/general files, and
student papers and theses. This series serves as a "catch-all" for records without a definite office of origin, but which
shed light on various aspects of the administration of Western State Hospital. Most of the records originated from or are
thought to have been created and/or collected by the Superintendent (also known as the "Director") of the hospital. However,
some records may have been created and collected by other departments or offices. Though the provenance may be unclear in
some cases, these records document the history of the institution and its various day-to-day activities.

Series I., Subseries A. Annual Reports, 1836-1994.

Contains annual reports for the Virginia Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, the State Hospital Board, and
Western State Hospital as well as all their earlier incarnations. The latest agency, board, and instution names found in the
material are used here for simplification purposes. The reports and supplements are part of accessions 31030 and 41404.

Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, 1952-1975.

Contains annual reports of the department spanning the years 1952-1956 and 1974-1975. These reports document the year in
review for the entire state agency. The reports often contain statistical and financial information for each institution
under its governance, as well. This state agency has changed names several times since its inception. In the 1950s it was
referred to as the Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals. It became the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
in 1973, and then the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services in 1987.

Arranged chronologically.

Box 1

Folder 1

1952-1956.

Box 1

Folder 2

1974-1975.

State Hospital Board, 1942-1950.

Contains annual reports created by the Virginia State Hospital Board. Information for each institution under the Board's
governance (Central State Hospital, Eastern State Hospital, Southwestern State Hospital, Western State Hospital, Lynchburg
Colony and Petersburg Colony) can be found in each booklet. The reports detail patient movement, activities, financial statistics,
property values and insurance information, and personnel data. Statistical tables containing patient data can be found at
the end of the report for each institution.

Arranged chronologically.

Box 244

Folder 1

1942-1943.

Box 244

Folder 2

1943-1944.

Box 244

Folder 3

1944-1945.

Box 244

Folder 4

1945-1946.

Box 244

Folder 5

1949-1950.

State Hospital Board (supplements), 1951-1958.

Contains statistical supplements created by the State Hospital Board that were meant to accompany the annual reports of the
Board. The supplements do not contain the complete annual reports, but only the tables and charts that were supposed to be
included with them. Information for each institution under the Board's governance can be found in each supplement.

Arranged chronologically.

Box 1

Folder 3

1951.

Box 1

Folder 4

1952.

Box 1

Folder 5

1953.

Box 1

Folder 6

1954.

Box 1

Folder 7

1955.

Box 1

Folder 8

1956.

Box 1

Folder 9

1957.

Box 1

Folder 10

1958.

Western State Hospital, 1836-1994.

Contains the annual reports of Western State Hospital that were submitted to the General Assembly by the Court or Board of
Directors every year. Researchers should note that Western State Hospital has changed names several times during its history.
In its earliest years it was sometimes referred to as "Western Hospital," as well as the more commonly used, "Western Lunatic
Asylum." Between 1861 and 1865, it was known as Central Lunatic Asylum (not to be confused with the hospital of the same
name later built in Petersburg, Virginia). The name was eventually changed to Western State Hospital by an Act of the General
Assembly in 1894. The reports were compiled by the superintendent and contain financial information, as well as patient-related
statistics. These charts often note specific mental conditions, place of patient origin, and if or when an elopement, discharge
or death occurred. Other topics are addressed when necessary, and include discussions of medical techniques, equipment or
employment needs, patient life, and overall management of the hospital. All of the earliest reports are handwritten, and some
are merely rough drafts or notes. Since this is not a comprehensive collection of annual reports, it may be necessary to
look elsewhere for those that are missing. In the earliest years, annual reports for state institutions were part of the
rough journals of the House of Delegates (1826-1846). Later, they became part of the Governor's message and annual reports
of the public officers of the state (1847-1860s). Annual reports for all of Virginia's state agencies (1860s and beyond)
were bound together as "Annual Reports of Officers, Boards and Institutions of the Commonwealth of Virginia," (call no. JK3930.A21).
Additional annual reports for Western Lunatic Asylum, most notably the report from 1861, can be found in the Records of Eastern
State Hospital.

Contains scattered annual reports created by the other Virginia State Hospitals, Colonies, and Training Centers. The reports
detail patient movement, activities, financial statistics, property values and insurance information, and personnel data.
In the earlier publications, statistical tables containing patient data can be found at the end of the reports.

Contains a variety of general files and meeting minutes created by and for the State Mental Health, Mental Retardation and
Substance Abuse Services Board and all of its earlier incarnations. The history of the Board begins with the Court of Directors
which was established as soon as the General Assembly approved construction of the asylum in 1825. In its earliest years,
the directors met as frequently as necessary, sometimes several times each month. In later years, the meetings became monthly
or bi-monthly. The Court of Directors was later renamed the Board of Directors, and its nine appointed members were required
to meet on a quarterly basis. In 1903, the Board of Directors was replaced by a three-person group called the Special Board
of Directors. This board answered to the newly-created General Board of Directors, which was composed of all the members
of each hospital's Special Board. The General Board connected all of the state-run hospitals for the first time. In 1937
the individual Special Boards were abolished, and the General Board was renamed the State Hospital Board. This board consisted
of seven members who were responsible for the management of all the state-run hospitals. This board was required to meet
at least once each year at each hospital. In later years, the Board met on a monthly or twice-monthly basis. The State Hospital
Board became the State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board in 1973, and then the State Mental Health, Mental Retardation
and Substance Abuse Services Board in 1987. All Board records created prior to 1937 are specific to Western State Hospital,
while those created after 1937 include information on all of the state-run hospitals. For information on the Executive Committee
(a subcommittee of the Western State Board of Directors), please see Series I. Administrative Records, Subseries G. Executive
Committee Records, as well as Series I. Administrative Records, Subseries N. Reports. The items within the Board of Directors
general files were found loose within accessions 31030 and 41404. The meeting minutes are part of accessions 31353, 31704,
and 41404.

General Files, 1831-1943.

Contains miscellaneous material related to the activities of the Board of Directors, the Special Board of Directors, or the
State Hospital Board, depending on the date of the document. The files include resolutions, orders, letters, petitions, and
reports. The report to Governor John Floyd was not originally part of the collection, but found in the Governor's Executive
Papers. A photocopy of the document was made, and due to its significance, it was arranged along with the Western State material.

Arranged alphabetically according to the name of the entity.

Board of Directors.

Box 8

Folder 1

Letters and Petitions,
1840-1867.

Box 8

Folder 2

Report to Governor John Floyd,
1831.

Box 8

Folder 3

Resolutions and Orders,
1842-1873.

General Board of Directors.

Box 8

Folder 4

Letter,
1929.

Box 8

Folder 5

Petition,
1905.

Special Board of Directors.

Box 8

Folder 6

Reports,
1925-1930.

Box 8

Folder 7

Resolutions,
1928-1932.

State Hospital Board.

Box 8

Folder 8

Resolution,
1943.

Meeting Minutes, 1825-1991.

Restricted: Meeting minutes that are less than 75 years old. Due to the presence of restricted patient information, these
records may require review by an archivist and/or redaction (if it is possible) before they are served. Contains detailed minutes of the meetings of the Court of Directors, Board of Directors (also referred to as the "Directory"),
and the Special Board of Directors of Western State Hospital. Also included here are minutes of the meetings of the General
Board of Directors, the State Hospital Board, the State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board, and the State Mental Health,
Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services Board, depending on the date of the document. The minutes give insight into
the decision-making processes and governance of Western State Hospital, as well as the other state hospitals. A few of the
early minute books have overlapping dates and many identical entries. However, in some cases one book may have minutes that
the other does not, so it would be beneficial to consult both for research purposes. Some of the later loose minutes have
agendas and correspondence attached. Additionally, there are several hospital inspection reports included within the minutes
for the 1940s.

Arranged chronologically.

Directory of Western Lunatic Asylum.

Volume 1

1825-1827.

Volume 2

1827-1834.

Volume 3

1835-1841.

Volume 4

1837-1847.

Volume 5

1847-1859.

Volume 6

1854-1861.

Board of Directors of Western Lunatic Asylum.

Volume 7

1860-1867.

Volume 8

1867-1884.

Volume 9

1884-1910.

General Board of Directors of State Hospitals.

Volume 10

1903-1913.

Board of Directors / Special Board of Directors / State Hospital Board.

Contains office files and drawings pertaining to the hospital grounds, at both the New and Old Sites. The office files document
maintenance and upkeep, insurance matters, building dedications, and other issues pertaining to the Western State Hospital
facility and campus. It is unclear which office or person created and maintained the files, but they may have originated in
the Office of the Superintendent. Of particular note are the Fire Insurance Inspection Reports which give detailed accounts
of the structures present at the Old Site in the 1960s. The report includes information about the use of buildings, dates
of construction, materials used, and value. Each structure is detailed individually, most have a photograph attached as well.
Additional photographs of the buildings (exteriors and interiors) at the Old Site and New Site can be found in Series I. Administrative
Records, Subseries K. Photographs and Slides. An older fireproofing report, including architectural renderings, can be found
in this subseries under "Drawings and Plans." Some of the older files include handwritten documents describing the hospital's
gas works, water system, and construction projects (Box 18, Folders 3, 5, 19, 26). Many of these documents were written by
Thomas R. Blackburn, the building superintendent and former architectural student of Thomas Jefferson. Researchers interested
in the early years of Western State should also consult Series I. Administrative Records, Subseries D. Correspondence, (Box
19, Folder 2) which contains several documents relating to the construction of the original hospital buildings. This file
includes a rather detailed sketch of the early building and its dimensions drawn by Baltimore architect William Small. There
are also several letters from the hospital gardener, William Wood, that describe his work on the grounds of the hospital (Box
53, Folder 15). Additional construction-related letters can be found in the 1890 correspondence file (Box 61, Folder 22).
Meeting minutes for the Local Building Committee and its later incarnation, the Institutional Executive Committee, can be
found in Series I. Administrative Records, Subseries I. Meeting Minutes. Additionally, an 1835 Building Committee report
can be found in Series I. Administrative Records, Subseries N. Reports. Researchers should also note additional buildings
and grounds records (1825-1873), including a workbook belonging to building superintendent, Thomas Blackburn, can be found
in Series VI. Records Found at Eastern State Hospital (Accession 44812).
Most of the drawings and plans are of buildings located at the New Site, many of which were done by the architectural firm
of Marcellus Wright and Son. A few drawings of the Old Site are included, such as those of the proposed court yard area and
canteen. The report on fireproofing includes an outdoor site plan and several architectural renderings of the wards. The
material found in this subseries was originally part of accessions 41404 and 31030.

The files and drawings are arranged alphabetically.

Oversize Box 1

Aerial Views of Western State Hospital (Marcellus Wright and Son illustrations),
undated.

Map Case 24

Drawer 12

Aerial Views of Western State Hospital (Marcellus Wright and Son illustrations),
undated.

Oversize Box 1

Aerial Conservation Plan Map,
1956.

Box 18

Folder 1

Architectural Illustrations (New Site),
undated.

Oversize Box 1

Architectural Renderings (possibly staff housing),
1951.

Box 18

Folder 2

Architectural Rendering (unidentified),
undated.

Box 18

Folder 3

Brick Supply (Report of),
1840.

Box 18

Folder 4

Building Committee,
1968-1972.

Box 18

Folder 5

Building Construction,
1833-1895.

Box 18

Folder 6

Building Plans Transferred from Library,
1957.

Box 18

Folder 7

Building Use and Cost Information,
1973.

Box 232

Folder 23

Chlorinator Operating Suggestions,
1934.

Map Case 24

Drawer 12

Continued Treatment Building (Two Marcellus Wright and Son illustrations),
undated.

Recreational and Occupational Therapy Building (Marcellus Wright and Son illustration),
undated.

Box 18

Folder 24

Sale of Front Lawn (Old Site),
1956.

Box 18

Folder 25

Schedule of Principal Buildings and Structures,
1944.

Box 18

Folder 26

Steam Works (Report on),
1857.

Oversize Box 1

Unidentified Building (drawing),
undated.

Box 18

Folder 27

Virginia Historic Landmark,
1969-1994.

Map Case 24

Drawer 12

Water Distribution System Plan,
undated.

Box 18

Folder 28

Water System,
1947-1950.

Box 18

Folder 29

Water Works,
1828-1850.

Series I., Subseries D. Correspondence, 1825-1944.

Contains correspondence-related material including lists of correspondents, correspondence registers, postal and delivery
records, general correspondence files, and the outgoing letter file of Dr. Joseph DeJarnette. The outgoing letter file was
separated from the general correspondence because it arrived as its own separate entity within the collection. As a side
note, lunacy and commitment papers that were originally housed with the correspondence can be found in Series IV. Patient
Records, Subseries D. Commitment Records. The earliest correspondence files are part of accession 31030, while some letters
(mostly post-1900) are part of accession 41404. The correspondence lists and registers, as well as Dr. DeJarnette's outgoing
letters are part of accession 41404.

Correspondent Lists, Undated.

Contains lists of correspondents, most of whom wrote to inquire about specific patients. It appears that the lists were most
likely kept by the hospital superintendent. The individual registers are arranged in loose alphabetical order and provide
the correspondent's name, the name of the patient or "subject," the correspondent's address, and his or her relation to the
patient. All of the correspondent lists are undated, but the dates have been roughly estimated. The first volume dates from
sometime before 1874 because Dr. Francis Stribling's handwriting is found in it. The earliest list contains correspondents
for both male and female patients. The other four registers are divided according to the sex of the patient. There are two
lists devoted to correspondents inquiring about male patients and two lists for female patients. Two of the registers have
"Correspondence, W.S.H." stamped on the cover, along with "Male" or "Female." They are believed to date from the late 1800s
to the early 1900s. The final two registers have no information on the cover and are thought to have been created and utilized
during the 1910s to 1920s. The four later registers contain loose correspondence and notes, which were used to formulate
the approximate dates. The last item listed is an unidentified and undated address book. It is uncertain whether the contacts
listed are related to patients.

Arranged chronologically.

Volume 12

Male and Female Patients,
Undated (circa pre-1874 to late 1800s).

Volume 13

Male Patients,
Undated (circa late 1800s to early 1900s).

Volume 14

Female Patients,
Undated (circa late 1800s to early 1900s).

Volume 15

Male Patients,
Undated (circa 1910s-1920s).

Volume 16

Female Patients,
Undated (circa 1910s-1920s).

Box 19

Folder 1

Address Book,
undated.

Correspondence Registers, 1837-1883.

Contains registers of correspondence-related records that appear to ahve been kept by the hospital superintendent. The first
volume includes a list of correspondents, a list of applications received, and a list of patients written for, in addition
to lists of letters received and written. This volume also contains a list of accounts rendered against patients and several
short memos of a general nature. The second register contains lists of letters both written and received. The third register
contains only a list of letters written, but the fourth contains only records of letters received. The fifth ledger again
lists letters written.

Arranged chronologically.

Volume 17

1837-1843.

Volume 18

1843-1849.

Volume 19

1850-1861 (Letters written).

Volume 20

1850-1867 (Letters received).

Volume 21

1876-1883 (Letters written).

Postal and Delivery Records, 1885-1894.

Contains one ledger which documents incoming parcels and deliveries received at Western State, both for patients and hospital
staff. Recorded in this ledger are the date, type of article, from whom it came, to whom it was sent, whether it was paid
for, and other various remarks. It is believed that this ledger was kept by the hospital superintendent. Researchers should
note that additional parcel post records specifically regarding patients can be found in Series IV. Patient Records, Subseries
I. Postal Records.

Arranged chronologically.

Volume 22

1885-1894.

Superintendent's Correspondence Files, 1825-1942.

Restricted: Correspondence containing patient names and information that is less than 75 years old. These records may require
review by an archivist and/or redaction (if it is possible) before they are served. Contains correspondence files from the superintendent's office. The correspondence has been divided into three subgroups:
correspondence, subject correspondence, and surveys. The largest of these groups is the general correspondence files which
contain incoming letters addressed to the hospital superintendent. The letters and surveys give insight into the daily work
of the hospital superintendent and document the earliest years of Western State Hospital, and Virginia's mental health treatment
system in general. Researchers should be be aware that some of the correspondence may contain mold due to past exposure to
water. Although now stabilized, some spores may still be present. As a result of the water damage, many of the documents
are fragile and discolored, and must be handled with care. Researchers should also note that additional superintendent's correspondence
(1835-1918) can be found in Series VI. Records Found at Eastern State Hospital (Accession 44812).

Correspondence, 1825-1942.

Contains mostly incoming letters addressed to the hospital superintendent. Some draft copies of outgoing letters are also
present and are filed according to the last name of the recipient. Several different types of letters are included in the
correspondence. For the most part, the material is in the form of letters from concerned friends and family members in regard
to the conditions of specific patients. However, many of the letters in this subseries are in the form of patient applications
from private citizens and jailors needing to place an insane person. In the earliest years of correspondence, the superintendent
wrote "no vacancy" on the original request, if there was no room to house the patient. Researchers may find some physician's
reports about patients in the correspondence, since many were sent to the superintendent as letters. The physicians would
often answer the same questions found on the interrogatories in the commitment papers. Researchers should note that commitment
papers can be found in Series IV. Patient Records, Subseries D. Commitment Papers.

In some cases, the letters are written directly to the patient. Letters sent to inmates from outsiders appear to have been
screened by the superintendent. He deemed whether the patient could have the letter or not, whether family members should
continue writing, and whether patients could write back. Notable letters include, James K. Dabney's letter to Governor James
L. Kemper accusing the hospital of false imprisonment (Box 51, Folder 5), a letter from a man by the last name of Halyburton
who wrote to his mother about rotten food served to patients (Box 51, Folder 10), and notes written by Thomas R. Evans to
the hospital superintendent complaining of various problems and poor treatment (Box 51, Folder 6). In other cases, former
patients wrote to the superintendent, such as a man named John Jones of Hanover County, who accuses the hospital and its doctors,
and many other organizations and people of grievious wrongdoing (Box 25, Folder 18), (Box 29, Folder 4) and (Box 30, Folder
18).

There are many topics of particular historical interest featured in the correspondence files. Information on building construction
is featured sporadically throughout. The 1825 folder contains several documents related to the construction of Western State,
accompanied by a detailed sketch of the building and its dimensions (Box 19, Folder 2). Additionally, the entire 1890 folder
of correspondence revolves around the construction of a new building (Box 61, Folder 22).

Also included are many letters are from various Virginia politicians, mostly members of the General Assembly or the Office
of the Auditor of Public Accounts, which pertain to money issues and legislation affecting Western State Hospital. Letters
from the Auditor's office can be found interpersed throughout the folders from 1836, 1840, and 1841. Letters from legislators
and those interested in hospital affairs can be found in (Box 20, Folder 17), (Box 34, Folders 19-20), (Box 35, Folders 7-9),
(Box 36, Folders 18-19), (Box 41, Folder 14), (Box 50, Folder 25) and (Box 51, Folders 1-2). Letters from various Virginia
governors such as Governor Westmoreland Davis (Box 62, Folder 7), Governor E. Lee Trinkle (Box 62, Folder 8 and Box 62, Folder
12), Governor Harry F. Byrd (Box 62, Folder 10; Box 62, Folder 11; Box 62, Folder 13; and Box 62, Folder 21), Governor George
C. Peery (Box 62, Folder 20), as well as Governors James H. Price and Colgate W. Darden, Jr. (Box 62, Folder 21). Many of
the letters are thank-you notes or congratulatory in nature. Also included in the post-1900 correspondence is discussion of
budgetary matters (Box 62, Folder 8).

Correspondence during the Civil War years is sparse, but the volume greatly increases in the years following the war. The
letters from 1865-67 show the economic downturn many Virginians faced, and it appears that there was an increase in the number
of letters of application. Notable letters include those written by John R. Edmunds who wrote about the unsettled relations
between the black and white populations (Box 43, Folder 4), and by a former slave named Harrison Kyle who wrote to the superintendent
to inquire about the condition of his former owner (Box 43, Folder 12). A letter written by Dr. D. Lamatin from Howard's Grove
Hospital in Richmond wrote to Dr. Francis Stribling for information that might help him establish a new hospital for blacks
(Box 44, Folder 21). That institution would later become known as Central State Hospital. Also of note is a letter from
Dr. Martin P. Scott who wrote seeking evidence to prove that emancipation caused an increase in African American insanity
(Box 55, Folder 24). For information on John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, please see letters written by James M. Hite
(Box 38, Folder 9) and John Q. Marr (Box 38, Folder 17). In the letters Hite discusses the incident in terms of government
response, while Marr wrote about the public's response, both white and black.

Another topic of interest is the correspondence between the superintendents of Western Lunatic Asylum and Eastern Lunatic
Asylum in Williamsburg. Robert M. Garrett, a former superintendent of Eastern State wrote to Dr. Stribling about his ouster
from office and illegal actions taken by the Board of Directors (Box 43, Folder 7). In another letter, Dr. C.S. Mills describes
the suicide death of Garrett's successor, Dr. Peticolas (Box 43, Folder 14). In a letter to Dr. Stribling written by Dr. D.R.
Brower of Eastern, it is revealed that many of the "books and most of the record of the asylum [Eastern State Hospital] had
been scattered to the four winds," (Box 44, Folder 8). Additionally, the folder of 1892 correspondence contains letters between
Eastern and Western administrators that touch on unhappy employees, fees, and the presence of inebriates at the hospitals
(Box 61, Folder 23).

There are several unexplained gaps within the superintendent's correspondence. In some cases, the gaps are alphabetical,
in others the gaps are chronological. Generally, the quantity of letters diminishes after 1879. The correspondence after
1900 focuses less on patients and family members, and more on business practices, policies and budgetary matters. The correspondence
is arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically within. However, there is no order within the folder(s) associated
with a particular letter of the alphabet. Letters with illegible or missing names are filed in the last folder of the year
in which they were written. Researchers should note that additional correspondence files dating from 1907 to 1944 are located
separately from the general superintendent's correspondence, but also in this subseries, under the heading of Superintendent's
Correspondence Files: Dr. Joseph S. DeJarnette.